Recent content by cliffenstein

Thanks to the fine folks over at WD Music, I now have a parchment pickguard on the guitar without the volume hole altogether (I like this look better than with the plug). This is truly a fantastic guitar!

A friend of mine who is in a cover band that does 80's alternative stuff took possession of one of my old strats that is set up this way. He loved it so much that he didn't return it to stock...kept the same pickup in it too (in that one it's a Little '59). He uses it all the time.

Leaving the other pups connected means when I’m performing and accidentally hit the toggle out of position (which I’m very prone to do due to how I perform) I mess my tone up.

Totally...but in all fairness. the volume knob is there to make it easy to ride the volume while you play, but I play with my strumming hand in the fan position (fingers hanging down) and I play all downstrokes (ala Johnny Ramone), so moving that volume knob down a spot is a must for me.

I picked up this used for a great deal ($1050 out the door) at Atomic Music in Beltsville, MD (absolutely KILLER store...it's literally everything music stores were back in the 70's and 80's). This one had been sitting for a good bit unsold, so it was marked down 30% from it's price and then...

I've got an order in for a customer shop melody maker humbucker voiced to sound like a JB Jr (I know and love that pickup in strats). The guitar it will be going in is a late 1964 single pickup model (when they initially changed the body shape to what is commonly known as the Joan Jett 1965...

First things first...these new Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom LPC's need no upgrades...and I seriously mean NO UPGRADES! Holy crap...they are astonishingly good! The weight of mine is just 8 lbs 6 oz The neck feels killer and measures .895" at the first fret and 1.039" at the 12th...

I have never, EVER bought a brand new Gibson before...always used. My wife and I went to go see Bad Religion and Social Distortion a couple Fridays ago. I had just sold my Limited Edition Les Paul Junior (those are the ones with the pre-war acoustic Gibson logos on them). Even though it...

I was notified from a seller on Reverb of a 2005 Edwards 100LT TV Yellow Double Cut Junior. The seller saw it on a Japanese site, remembered an old enquiry I had made to him, and contacted me with the link. So I clicked on the link...2005, full thin skin nitro...the best one Edwards ever made...

Purchased in May and finally got it back from the shop after a massive makeover. 2012 Les Paul Traditional Mahogany Satin - Ebony These are supposed to all have VERY slim 60's profile necks (.8" at the 1st fret and .875" at the 12th), but I scored one that went out with an almost 59 profile...

I put in a lowball offer for 1988 JCM 800 2204 listed on the Sweetwater Gear Exchange thinking it would absolutely not be accepted. I don't need another amp, but just for kicks I put in the bid. Oops...it was accepted. $1800 and it was mine. Seller even included an Anvil Flight Case for free (a...

Picked up a super cool black 2015 Road Worn Stratocaster...previous owner had shielded the electronics cavity, upgraded the pickups (Seymour Duncan APS1 & 2 in the neck/middle and Porter vintage custom in the bridge), replaced the neck plate with a 5 digit numbered one (which would correspond to...

I just got this back from my tech today all ready to go, so I figured I'd make a proper NGD post about it. I bought this from a seller who originally acquired it in the late 80's. Back then a lot of guys were embarrassed to play MIJ guitars (exactly the same sentiment as those who feel the...

I own a 2019 Gibson Original Collection TV Yellow Special and I absolutely adore it. You all know how it goes...once you have a soap bar P90 Gibson, you can't stop the lust for a dog ear one. The last several times I went to the shop where my guitar tech works, I saw a lovely 2018 Junior on the...

Got them installed in my 1977 Aria Pro II Les Paul Custom, along with nice pots and 50's wiring several months ago, so I'm past the honeymoon phase. I just have to say...these pickups sound incredible. Seriously incredible. Great work SD!!!!!